U.S. President Donald Trump said he has ordered a five-day pause in planned strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure following “very good and highly productive conversations,” even as a widening conflict in the Middle East threatens global energy supplies and regional stability.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States and Iran had held two days of discussions aimed at reaching a “total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East” to ongoing combat operations, adding that further developments would depend on the outcome of the talks.

The pause comes against the backdrop of a fast-escalating war that began in late February with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering a cycle of retaliatory missile attacks across the region and a near shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical route that carries roughly 20% of global oil supply. 

In recent days, Washington has ramped up military pressure, including deploying thousands of troops and launching operations targeting Iranian naval assets to reopen the strategic waterway. 

Iran, however, has remained defiant. It has continued missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory and threatened to strike U.S. bases and allied infrastructure across the Gulf if its own facilities are hit. 

On Monday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned they would respond in kind if the United States attacked its power grid, signaling a “tit-for-tat” escalation targeting energy facilities in the region. 

Analysts say Trump’s decision to delay strikes likely reflects growing concern within Washington over the scale of potential Iranian retaliation.

Tehran has warned of “heavy and decisive” responses, including further disruption of shipping lanes and possible expansion of attacks across the Gulf, raising the risk of a broader regional war.

The conflict has already had far-reaching economic consequences. Oil prices have surged above $110 per barrel, global stock markets have fallen sharply, and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has plunged dramatically, with some estimates suggesting traffic has dropped by as much as 95%. 

By ChimpReports